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DNA | Estrogen + Skin

DNALYSIS

R 4,300.00

"JOINCIRCLES enables you to own your medical data. After buying a DNA test here, we’ll send out your DNA kit on the next working day. When your kit arrives, swab the inside of your cheek and call our courier to collect – follow the simple instructions in the kit. The lab will take around 14 working days to analyse your DNA, from the time they receive your DNA sample. When your results are ready, I'll email them directly to you. To get the full value from your results, we highly recommend that you contact a healthcare practitioner from our ‘Practitioner Circle’ to take you through your results. This will help you understand how and where to focus your efforts. They will also suggest the most relevant blood, blood spot and urine biochemistry tests that you can do going forward, to measure and track your risks and potentials based on your unique genetic variations. After your consult, you could book a wellness coaching appointment with Margie to get you started and keep you on track. Once you have your DNA, you can start shopping personalised nutrition, environment and lifestyle choices on JOINCIRCLES.com. This is how you start on your journey towards optimal wellness! Please contact me if you need help choosing the right test and/or practitioner for your needs". Dr Heidi | drheidi@joincircles.com

Quantity

We believe that more medical info is better than less. Combining our genetic tests to best suit your needs gives you more info plus works out more cost effective.

DNA | Estrogen

Did you know that approximately 80% of breast cancers occur in women with no family history? Pretty terrifying, right?

Estrogen positively and negatively affects the functioning of several estrogen-sensitive target tissues such as breast, ovarian, uterus, bones and brain cells.

Research shows that an increased lifetime exposure to estrogen, along with the production of harmful estrogen metabolites in the liver, are strong risk indicators for developing breast and other estrogen-positive cancers.

Tests for

Gene variations associated with a reduced ability to detoxify estrogen, the potential for DNA damage, the risk from environmental carcinogens including the contraceptive Pill and IVF.

Benefits of the DNA | Estrogentest

Providesinformation that can be used to assess your risk for inefficient estrogen detox, and estrogen associated imbalances and illnesses

Includes key genes involved in the making of estrogen and the breakdown (metabolism) of estrogen in Phase I and Phase II liver detoxification

Offers direction on how to personalise your diet, supplement, environment and lifestyle choices to improve how your body metabolises estrogen

Recommended for

Young women considering going on the contraceptive Pill. It can help them better understand: 1. Their body's ability to detox estrogen. 2. Whether the Pill maybecontributeto estrogen excess and associated health issues. 3. If her body is more prone to generating DNA-damaging estrogen metabolites from estrogen.

Women who suffer from estrogen-dominant conditions such as endometriosis, premenstrual syndrome and uterine fibroid tumours

Women who are considering in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) which involves high doses of sex hormones

Men who have estrogen excess resulting in 'moobs' (male boobs), cellulite, weight gain around their hips and thighs, infertility, increased prostate cancer risk, and/or where biochemistry tests have shown raised levels of estrogen and estrogenmetabolites,or low levels of testosterone and progesterone in relation to estrogen

Men and woman who have had a longer lifetime exposure to estrogen such as a woman who started menstruating earlier than normal

Men or women with a family history of breast, ovarian, colon or prostate cancer which were caused by estrogen. This test does not, however, test for BRCA mutations. It is for cancers where nutrition, environment and lifestyle choices are the suspected cause.

People who have had an estrogen-receptor positive cancer

Genes analysed

Phase I of estrogen detoxification in the liver

CYP1A1

A Phase I cytochrome P450 enzyme that converts environmental procarcinogens into reactive intermediates that have carcinogenic effects. It is further involved in the oxidative metabolism of estrogens.

CYP1B1

Catalyses the 4-hydroxylation of estradiol and active polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and arylamines.

CYP17A

Catalyses reactions involved in drug metabolism and synthesis of cholesterol, steroids, and other lipids as an integral part of the estrogen metabolism pathway.

MnSOD

Phase II of estrogen detoxification in the liver

GSTM1

Responsible for the removal of xenobiotics, carcinogens, and products of oxidative stress, which include reactive estrogen metabolites.

GSTT1

A member of a superfamily of proteins that catalyse the conjugation of reduced glutathione, and is responsible for removal of reactive products of estrogen metabolism.

COMT

Influences the levels of certain hormones and is involved in the methylation and inactivation of catechol estrogens.

MTHFR

MTHFR is a key enzyme in the folate metabolism pathway - directing folate from the diet either to DNA synthesis or homocysteine re-methylation. Decreased MTHFR enzyme activity has been associated with increased premenopausal breast cancer risk with longer duration of estrogen exposure.

SULT1A1

Involved in the inactivation of estrogens and bio-activation of heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

NQO1

Quinone Reductase is primarily involved in the detoxification of potentially mutagenic and carcinogenic quinones derived from tobacco smoke, diet and estrogen metabolism.

Factor V

Factor V Leiden gene mutation is characterised by a poor anticoagulant response to Activated Protein C and an increased risk of venous thromboembolism. This gene is included because estrogen excess or dominance (more estrogen than progesterone) can increase the risk of clotting. Increased estrogen coupled with a factor V mutation can lead to an increased risk of clotting or thrombosis on the contraceptive Pill and on HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy).

Average processing time

Sample reports

The science behind these DNA reports

Once the DNAlysis lab receives your DNA sample, they use a process called Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to copy the DNA in your genes many times over, so that they have ample material with which to analyse your genetic material. They then look for unique DNA sequences in your genes, and if they spot changes from the norm, they mark those as risk factors.

Over the years, they have noticed who people that show variations in the gene markers involved in carcinogen metabolism, metabolism of steroid hormones and detoxification, are often part of a subpopulation of women and men with higher lifetime exposure to estrogens, estrogen metabolites and other carcinogens.

By understanding this connection and your unique genetic variability, they can make a holistic assessment of your risks associated with inefficient estrogen detox and provide practical advice on how to reduce these risks.

Comment from Dr Heidi

"We strongly recommend the DNA | Estrogen test for all women and men because we all have estrogen! Yes, women do have more estrogen than men but we all need to know how well we detox estrogen because our world is 'estrogen-ising'.

Daily, we're all exposed to more and more xenoestrogens from our environment. Xenoestrogens are chemicals that have an estrogen-like effect in the body. They can contribute to estrogen excess and a plethora of signs, symptoms and diseases including cancer.

Estrogen is referred to as the 'Angel of Life' and 'The Angel of Death'. It is both essential and lethal. It can do so much good yet so much harm. It is important to keep your estrogen in balance with your other sex hormones such as progesterone and testosterone.

Understanding genetics

It may sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but genetic testing is a powerful health tool that can give you a deep understanding of how your body works.

At the heart of it is the molecule DNA. Every single cell in our bodies – from our heart to skin, blood and bone – contains a complete set of our DNA. This powerful molecule carries our genetic code and determines all manner of traits, from our eye colour to aspects of our personalities and, of course, our health.

Interestingly, 99.9% of the DNA from two people is identical. It’s the other 0.1% of DNA code sequences that make us unique.

What are genes?

Genes are segments of DNA that contain the instructions your body needs to make each of the many thousands of proteins required for life. Each gene is comprised of thousands of combinations of ‘letters’ which make up your genetic code. The code gives the instructions to make the proteins required for proper development and function.

What are gene variations?

An example of a genetic variation is that one ‘letter’ may be replaced by another. These variations can lead to changes in the resulting proteins being made. For example, a ‘C’ may be changed to a ‘G’ at a point in the genetic code. When the variation affects only one genetic ‘letter’ it is called a 'Single Nucleotide Polymorphism', or 'SNP' (pronounced “snip”).

Variations can however also affect more than one ‘letter’. Genetic tests look at specific chromosomes, genes or proteins, and the variations that occur within them, to make observations about disease or disease risk, body processes or physical traits.

Are gene variations bad?

In general, variations should not be considered good or bad. Rather, genetic variations are simply slight differences in the genetic code. The key is to know which form of the variation you carry so that you can make appropriate lifestyle choices. And that is the beauty of genetic testing. It can tell you more about the way you're built so that you can tailor your lifestyle to fit your biology.